after a long, slow restoration, the egyptian government is reopening the pyramid to the public along with six ancient tombs hoping to jolt a struggling industry. tourism here dropped a third after the arab spring. what better way to bring visitors back than to give them access to one of the world's greatest wonders. >> fantastic. absolutely fantastic. >> reporter: some historians believe the fourth dynasty built his pyramid just a hair shorter than his father's out of respect. although not as high as the great pyramid, it is no less grand. it is the only one still capped by the original limestone blocks. inside, the millennia old passage ways are newly ventilated. it's no less claustrophobic. >> can you do something about the height of these passage ways? he has worked as an archaeologist here for 13 years. >> so this is a message for us. for the whole of the world. come, we are ready for you. egypt is ready. >> reporter: the passage way leads to the burial chamber, carved directly out of the bedrock. >> there was a legend that a blue-eyed spirit protected the pyramid, but didn't pre